Written by the Big Five coaches

Assault charges will be filed against Villanova basketball player JayVaughn Pinkston for a fight that occurred at an offcampus party early Sunday morning, police said.

Pinkston will be charged with two counts each of simple assault and harassment and he is the only one facing charges as a result of the incident, police said.

Pinkston, a freshman forward from Brooklyn, N.Y., who was named New York state’s player of the year last season, was attending a party at a residential house on Keebler Road near Langdale Court in Upper Merion Township when “an argument ensued between Mr. Pinkston and several of the attendees,” Upper Merion Police Sgt. Jeffery Maurer said.

As a result of the fight, which broke out around 3:30 a.m., two men sought treatment at Bryn Mawr Hospital, Maurer said. Police declined to release the ages or identities of the alleged victims. Maurer did not want to comment on whether they were also Villanova students, though he did say the party was being attended by numerous students from the school.

“Earlier this week, Villanova opened its own internal review to determine whether Code of Student Conduct violations had occurred in this matter,” the university said in a statement. “The university is moving forward with this review as quickly and diligently as possible in order to assure fairness to everyone. Until a decision is reached, JayVaughn will not play in games, but will be allowed to participate in other team activities.”

In a statement, coach Jay Wright said: “JayVaughn is very aware of the seriousness of this matter and how it could impact the team. He understands there is a great lesson to be learned here.”

Police declined to comment on what sparked the fight, but the New York Daily News, quoting “a source with knowledge of the situation,” said Pinkston was locked in a room during the party as a prank and that after he was able to break the door down to get out, he confronted the men who had locked him in the room.
Police are not issuing a warrant for Pinkston’s arrest. Charges are being filed in district court and he will receive a court date at a later time, Maurer said.